Chapter 404
A flicker of guilt seized Hannah, but the next second, Chloe tipped her head back to peck her on the cheek.
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Eyes curving into crescents, Chloe said, “You’re not selfish, Mommy. I love you the most, and I’ll stay by your side and protect you forever!”
Hannah broke into a small laugh at Chloe’s solemn promise, delivered in a childish tone. Tears glistened in her eyes as she tightened her arms around Chloe. “I love you the most, too, Chloe
Hannah strolled under the streetlights with Chloe in her arms, their elongated shadows cast on the sidewalk. The yellow lighting softened their features and added a warm touch to the private mother–daughter moment.
Meanwhile, behind them, a luxurious limousine slowly drove down the street.
Dominic was in the backseat, his gaze fixed on Hannah’s and Chloe’s silhouettes as they walked into the distance. Envy, tinged with loneliness, flashed in his eyes.
His phone wouldn’t stop ringing. Shirley had been calling him, but the last thing he wanted was to accept the call. He let the phone ring until it stopped, and a missed–call notification popped up on his screen.
But the next second, Dominic’s driver’s phone rang. The driver quickly put the call through and greeted the person on the other line respectfully, then knocked on the partition.
“What is it?” Dominic asked nonchalantly as he lowered the partition.
“I have Mrs. Lancaster on the phone. She said I must put you on the line,” the driver informed.
Growing impatient, Dominic pressed his lips into a thin line but took the phone nonetheless.
His mother, Grace Thurman, demanded, “We have a family dinner today! Where are you? Why aren’t you here?”
“I had urgent business to take care of at the company, so I’ll take a rain check,” Dominic lied casually.
“Urgent business?” Grace scoffed. “Spare me your lies, Dominic. I’m your mother, and I know you better than anyone. You just want to avoid making an appearance with Shirley!”
“Since you know everything, Mom, surely you didn’t have to call me to ask,” Dominic drawled.
“Dominic! Did you see that woman again?” Grace thundered. “Is she the reason you’ve been pushing back your wedding?”
Dominic remained silent and rubbed the aching spot at the corner of his eye. All he could think about was Chloe’s birthday.
It so happened that Chloe was born the same year he went abroad to handle the crisis at the company’s overseas branch. He hadn’t expected Hannah to get involved with another man so soon after he left or for her to bear such an adorable daughter as a result of that entanglement.
The jealousy could drive Dominic mad. He wanted nothing more than to throttle Hannah for being such a traitorous ingrate and steal Chloe from her.
Fortunately, Grace’s voice pulled Dominic out of his thoughts, which were growing darker by the second. “I don’t care about your messy business with that woman, nor do I care about whether you truly want to marry Shirley.
“My advice to you is the same–if you want to take over Lancaster Group from your father, you can either get married or have a kid! Choose your poison! This is my final warning. Am I clear?”
“Very.” Dominic frowned and hung up on Grace without another word. He recalled how Chloe looked like a mini replica of Hannah, and a wave of displeasure coursed through him.
If only Chloe were his daughter. He reckoned he could be a good father to her.
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Chapter 404
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Meanwhile, somewhere else in Castenea, Gregory showed up at an abandoned factory in the dark of the night with a security entourage.
He had only just arrived to find a man clad in black, the outfit allowing him to blend into the night. The man flashed a sardonic smile at Gregory.
“Long time no see, Mr. Sinclair.” The man pulled down his mask.As I said, I plan to give you a taste of your own medicine. Soon, you’ll know how it feels to lose someone important to you!”
The man was none other than Michael. Gregory’s face darkened.
Martin was baffled by Michael’s reveal. “That’s strange. I thought Michael was locked up behind bars. What’s he doing here?”
More importantly, what was Michael’s end goal?
As if reading Martin’s mind, Michael barked a sinister laugh before dragging a burlap sack out from behind a heap of splintered wood. He hauled the person before him and revealed the person’s face.
It was a man, and his face was so badly roughed up that it was covered in bruises and abrasions.
Martin grew even more puzzled, for he had never seen the man before. At first glance, the man looked like any other fisherman who had nothing to do with Gregory or the rest of them.
However, a violent storm brewed in Gregory’s eyes when he saw the man. “Dad…”
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